Completely KIDS℠ named Nonprofit of the Year

The Greater Omaha Chamber named Completely KIDS℠ as the Nonprofit of the Year during the Big O! Excellence Awards Luncheon on Tuesday.

“We are thrilled to be the recipient of this award,” said Completely KIDS℠ Executive Director Penny Parker. “It’s a testimony that members of the Omaha community acknowledge the needs we are trying to meet daily, and that they value the work we do.”

The Nonprofit of the Year award recognizes an organization for its excellent stewardship of resources and exceptional outcomes. Organizations are evaluated on the following criteria:

Outcome-based service/program delivery practices that exhibit community impact and involvement.

Demonstration of financial stability and good stewardship of donor dollars.

Demonstration of commitment to its organizational mission.

Completely KIDS℠ disaffiliated last year with its national organization, Camp Fire USA, as a way to ensure that the money the organization raises stays in Omaha. The name Completely KIDS℠ more closely reflects the services the organization provides and presents opportunities to grow programs for the families of the children it serves.

“Our organization has had a longstanding relationship with this community, and we are fortunate to have loyal donors who recognize the unique role we play,” Parker said. “Our transition this past year into Completely KIDS℠ only aligns us closer with our mission and allows us to more effectively serve the Omaha community.”

Annually, Completely KIDS℠ serves more than 2,000 children and teens through out-of-school time programs in eight schools, three homeless shelters and at the Completely KIDS℠ building, addressing the needs of the whole child by building on four components – youth development, nutrition and healthy meals, academic support and school partnerships, and family.

Nearly 32,000 meals were served last year in its Kids Café, and more than 16,500 backpacks filled with nutritious child-friendly food were distributed. Youth participate in service learning and academic enrichment, and staff members engage families through family nights at each location and via the Family Support Center at the Completely KIDS℠ building.

While Completely KIDS℠ core programming serves children and families primarily in South Omaha, its Prevention Education programs use education-theater to reach children and adults across Douglas and Sarpy counties. The Prevention Education programs teach children how to recognize, report and avoid inappropriate interpersonal and online interactions through “The Bubbylonian Encounter” and “Adventures of Natalie the Net Nanny.”

Completely KIDS℠ was selected out of three finalists for the nonprofit award, including Legal Aid of Nebraska and Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska.